Housing & Banking (Rent Contract + Bank Account)
Housing: Conclusion of the rental contract
Although both students need the Codice Fiscale to register the contract with the Agenzia delle Entrate, the identity documents required to attach to the contract differ:
EU students:
- Identity document: The landlord concludes the contract directly based on the identity card (bulletin) or passport from the country of origin.
- Guarantees: The process is simpler, being European citizens, and credit checks (if there is a guarantor/parent) are easier to do in the EU.
Non-EU students:
- Identity document: The landlord cannot legally register the contract based only on the visa in the passport for long periods. The student must necessarily present the postal receipt (receipt) of the residence permit.
- Additional obligation (Dichiarazione di Ospitalità): The landlord who accommodates a Non-EU citizen is required by law to file a declaration of hospitality with the Police (Questura) within 48 hours. Without the receipt of the student's residence permit, the landlord risks huge fines, which is why many refuse Non-EU students if they do not have the documents.
Banking: Opening the account for scholarships and fees
Here is the biggest bottleneck, because Italian banks apply strict anti-money laundering rules (Anti-Money Laundering) that are different for citizens from outside the European area.
EU students:
- Procedure: Open a free student account (Conto Corrente Studenti) instantly at major banks (e.g. Intesa Sanpaolo, UniCredit).
- Documents required: Only the ID card/passport from the EU country, Codice Fiscale and proof of enrollment at the university. I receive a complete Italian IBAN the same day, ready to send to the university for scholarships.
Non-EU students:
- Procedure: They are considered third country residents. Many traditional banks refuse to open a standard account if the student does not have a physical Permesso di Soggiorno card (which can take months to print).
- Fallback solution: They have to look for banks or special services (such as Postepay Evolution from the Italian Post Office or flexible digital banks) that accept account opening based on postal receipt (receipt) and passport, as a temporary solution to avoid losing the first installments of their scholarships.
Housing
The housing market in Italy is one of the biggest challenges for international students. Cities such as Milan, Bologna, Rome and Turin are facing an acute housing crisis, which is why the search should start at least 3-4 months before arrival.
Accommodation options are divided into three main categories: student-only platforms, private real estate platforms and public/university options.
1. Student-only platforms (Secure and Verified)
These platforms are ideal for international students because they allow booking completely online, before arriving in Italy, and offer increased protection against fraud. A big advantage is that many of them issue an official accommodation certificate, a mandatory document often requested at embassies to obtain a study visa (especially for Non-EU students).
- HousingAnywhere: One of the most popular platforms in Italy. Your money is securely locked by the platform and only transferred to the owner 48 hours after you move in, ensuring that the property matches reality.
- Uniplaces: Very strong in Milan, Rome and Florence. It has a rigorous system of verification of owners (Verified Listings). All details related to expenses (utilities included or not) are displayed transparently.
- [AmberStudent](https://amberstudent.com/): A great option for booking rooms in private co-living student residences. It offers free 24/7 support throughout the entire rental process.
- Spotahome: Sends physical teams to the field to film, photograph and inspect apartments. This way, you can see a real video tour of the room before sending the money.
2. Private Real Estate Platforms (Local Market)
These sites are used by local real estate agencies (agenzie immobiliari) and private Italian landlords. Prices can be lower, but require more attention to detail and, most often, knowledge of the Italian language.
- Idealista.it: Italy's largest rental portal. It has a special section dedicated exclusively to students called "Affitto stanze" (Rooms for rent in shared apartments). Here you can filter the ads by the gender of the roommates or student status.
- Immobiliare.it: Italy's second most used real estate search engine. Ads posted by agencies predominate, which means you will have to pay an agency fee (provvigione), equivalent to 1-2 months' rent.
3. Public Options and University Residences
- DSU (Diritto allo Studio Universitario): Each region in Italy (Lazio, Lombardia, Emilia-Romagna) has a public body that offers places in student dormitories at very low prices (subsidized, between €150 and €300). These are granted strictly based on the family's financial situation reflected in the ISEE Parificato document. Places are limited and applications usually close early in the summer.
- University-owned residences: Many large faculties have agreements with private campuses or own their own buildings. International students should contact the university's International Office directly immediately after admission.
Golden rules for student safety
1. Type of Contract: For students there is a special contract called Contratto di locazione per studenti universitari (duration between 6 months and 3 years), much more flexible than the classic 4+4 type.
2. No money upfront on trust: No student should send a security deposit (caparra) via direct bank transfers or Western Union based on simple pictures received on WhatsApp or Facebook. Payment is only made through secure platforms or after signing the contract.
3. Hidden costs (Expenses): Check whether the rental price is Expenses included (with utilities and community fees included) or Expenses excluded. Block fees (condominium fees) can easily add between €50 and €150 per month to the final cost.
HousingAnywhere
HousingAnywhere is one of the most recommended platforms by HubStudentsEurope for students going to Italy. The reason is simple: it solves the biggest problem of an international student—the security of the transaction before arriving in the country.
In extremely crowded cities like Milan, Bologna, Rome or Florence, where the competition for a room is fierce, this platform acts as a secure intermediary between the student and the landlord.
How the security system works (Anti-Scam)
The biggest fear of students is sending the deposit and discovering that the apartment does not exist. On HousingAnywhere, this risk is eliminated through the secure payment system:
- The student pays the first month of rent directly on the platform to reserve the room.
- HousingAnywhere blocks the money and does not send it to the landlord immediately.
- The money is transferred to the landlord's account only 48 hours after the student's official move-in date.
- If the student arrives at the location and finds that the reality does not correspond at all to the photos or description on the website, they have 48 hours to report the problem to receive their money back.
Accommodation Certificate for Visa (Crucial for Non-EU)
For students from outside the European Union who have already completed Step 2 (Formalization of stay), HousingAnywhere offers a massive bureaucratic advantage.
- Once a reservation is confirmed, the platform generates a set of official reservation and billing documents.
- These documents serve as official proof of accommodation (Accommodation Proof), being directly accepted by embassies and consulates for issuing a study visa for Italy.
Costs and Fee Policy
It is important for students to budget their expenses correctly, as using the platform involves certain costs:
1. Booking Fee: HousingAnywhere charges a one-time service fee when booking a room (it represents a percentage of the rent or a fixed amount, clearly visible before payment).
2. Security Deposit: This is not usually paid through the platform in the first phase. Once the student has moved in and the 48 hours have passed, the security deposit (equivalent to 1-3 months of rent) is paid directly to the landlord, as specified in the ad.
Practical tips for students on HousingAnywhere Italy
- Pay attention to the “Verified Landlord” label: Look for landlords who have this badge. It means that the platform team has verified their identity, history and, in many cases, physical visits to the location have been carried out.
- Check the "Utilities" section: In Italy, the costs of the apartment (condominium fees), internet, gas and electricity can be included in the price (All-inclusive) or calculated separately. On the platform, this is clearly detailed in the right-hand sidebar of each ad.
- Communicate only through the platform: Landlords who try to convince students to move the conversation to WhatsApp or send money via Western Union/direct bank transfer should be reported immediately. If the transaction takes place outside the site, the 48-hour guarantee disappears.
- Be quick: In university cities like Bologna, a good ad receives dozens of applications in the first few hours. Complete your student profile 100% (add proof of acceptance from the university, a short description about yourself) to become an attractive tenant from the start.
Uniplaces Italy
Is another top platform recommended for international students on HubStudentsEurope. It has a very strong presence in major university cities such as Milan, Rome, Florence, Turin and Bologna.
Like HousingAnywhere, Uniplaces focuses on medium and long-term bookings made entirely online, before the student physically arrives in Italy.
How does Uniplaces’ security system work?
Their system is designed to protect students’ money from real estate fraud:
- Payment in advance: The student pays the first month’s rent directly on the site to lock the room.
- Money is held: Uniplaces holds the amount in a secure account.
- Transfer to the landlord: The money is released to the landlord 24 hours after the student officially moves in. If the room does not exist or is completely different from the photos, the student must report the problem within this time to block the payment.
Verified Listings
One of the biggest advantages of the platform in Italy is the “Checked” / “Verified” label.
- The Uniplaces team physically visits a large part of the apartments.
- They take professional photos, draw house plans and film real video tours.
- This minimizes unpleasant surprises and gives students the certainty that what they are booking is real.
Useful for visa and bureaucracy
For Non-EU students coming to Italy, confirming the reservation on Uniplaces generates an official receipt and a digital contract. This document can be used at the consulate as proof of accommodation required to obtain a study visa. The platform also uses contract templates adapted for students, facilitating subsequent registration with the Agenzia delle Entrate.
Fee Structure and Cancellation Policy
It is important for students to know the financial details before booking:
1. One-time Service Fee: Uniplaces charges a one-time fee to process the reservation. This fee is non-refundable in case of cancellation due to the tenant's fault.
2. Flexible or strict cancellation policies: Owners choose their own cancellation rules (Flexible, Moderate, Strict, Non-refundable). Students should carefully check the policy box on the room page: for example, a Flexible policy offers a 30-day refund of the rent before moving out, but a Strict one requires a 90-day notice.
Tips & Tricks for students on Uniplaces Italy
- ESN (Erasmus Student Network) partnerships: Uniplaces officially collaborates with many ESN branches in Italy (such as ESN Trento or Milan). Students can often use promo codes (e.g. ESNINTERNATIONAL) to get a 25% discount on the platform’s service fee.
- Beware of “Bills Included”: Many listings state “Bills included”. However, students should read the full description: sometimes there is a monthly limit (e.g. max €50/month for electricity), and anything above this amount is charged extra.
- No external payments: If a host on the platform asks for money via direct bank transfer before the booking has been officially approved by Uniplaces, it is a fraud attempt. All initial transactions must be made on the site to maintain the 24-hour guarantee.
